From post-war Bosnia to Silicon Valley: Studying computer science at UC Berkeley

Elena was born in Bosnia shortly after the civil war, in a country most of its qualified professors had left. Resources were scarce. Ambition was not. She became a National Math Champion, a NASA Space Apps competitor, and a silver-medalist rower, and she aimed for the center of Silicon Valley: UC Berkeley.

Student snapshot

• Target: Computer Science
• Spike: Math competitions and athletics (rowing, basketball)
• Outcome: Computer Science, UC Berkeley (a top public university in the US)

Equedu: You were a National Math Champion and a competitive athlete, with options closer to home. Why the US, and why UC Berkeley?

Elena: I’ve always been pragmatic. I love Math and Computer Science, and I knew early on that I wanted a career that was both practical and lucrative. If you want to be the best in this field, you have to go to the source.

Silicon Valley is the global heartbeat of technology. I couldn't imagine a better place to study than UC Berkeley. Unlike some students who look for "hidden gems," I frankly felt it was important to be part of a school with a massive global brand. I wanted that recognition on my degree, and I knew Berkeley offered an environment I couldn't find anywhere else.

"I didn't just list my grades; I explained how I got them despite the shortage of teachers. It showed universities that I was a self-starter by necessity."

Equedu: You said growing up in Bosnia created specific hurdles. How did that shape your application?

Elena: I was born just after the civil war. My early childhood was defined by the economic consequences of that conflict. One of the biggest issues was the "brain drain": most of the qualified professors had fled the country.

I realized very early that if I wanted a higher level of education, I would have to leave. But I also used that context in my essays. I didn't just list my grades; I explained how I got them despite the shortage of teachers. It showed universities that I was a self-starter by necessity, not just by choice.

Equedu: Top US universities receive tens of thousands of applications from students with top grades. How did you stand out?

Elena: I knew that great SAT scores were just the baseline. Everyone has them. To survive the selection process, I had to lean into my individuality.

I highlighted my "dual life." On one side, I was winning the MTS App Challenge and regional hackathons in Belgrade. On the other, I was an athlete. I was actually the first girl to ever play basketball on my school's all-boys team. Combining those stories, the "tech geek" and the barrier-breaking athlete, gave my application a specific character that was hard to replicate.

Equedu: You were juggling rowing, hackathons, and school. Where did mentorship fit?

Elena: The flexibility was everything. I am constantly busy with projects, and I was worried a mentorship program would just be "more homework." Instead, it was a time-saver. The Equedu team filtered the noise. I didn't have to spend hours Googling conflicting advice. They gave me first-hand information: not stuff you read on Reddit, but insights from people who actually lived the process. They streamlined my decisions so I could focus on executing them.

Equedu: Beyond the application itself, did the process change you?

Elena: Definitely. I became much more confident in how I communicate.

I’m a STEM student; I used to be more comfortable with numbers than networking. But during this process, I had to interview with alumni, write dozens of scholarship emails, and articulate my story to strangers. My mentor taught me how to sell myself, verbally and in writing. By the time I got to campus, I wasn't just a better student; I was a better professional.

Equedu: What is your one piece of advice for a student aiming at a school like Berkeley?

Elena: Depth over breadth. "Focus" is the keyword. I see students trying to do a dozen different clubs to look well-rounded. Don't do that. A few extra points on the SAT or joining a 10th club won't tip the scales. Pick one to three things (for me, it was Math and Athletics) and become undeniably good at them. Universities want to see mastery in one area, not mediocrity in ten.

The strongest STEM applications Equedu sees for top US public universities read as a thesis, not a tour of activities. Test scores and competition counts matter less than whether the essays make two or three things describe the student completely.